NEWS BRIEFS | 23 December 2024

Sulu election supervisor survives ambush in Zamboanga, but brother killed

Gunmen missed their target, the provincial election supervisor of Sulu, but killed his elder brother instead in a drive-by shooting in Zamboanga City last Saturday.

Police said the gunmen pulled along an SUV driven by Sulu provincial election supervisor Vidzfar Amil Julie and fired shots at the vehicle. But it was his brother, Naser Amir Asiri, who was hit.

The provincial election supervisor had just arrived from Jolo and fetched by his brother at the Zamboanga City airport. 

Widow of murdered tribal leader killed in Maguindanao ambush

Police in Maguindanao del Sur are in hot pursuit against two suspects in the ambush of the wife of a Teduray Lambangian leader, who was also murdered earlier this month, and one of her companions in Datu Hofer Ampatuan town in Maguindanao del Sur Thursday last week.

Police identified those killed as Cita Angan, 39, and Ricky Tapioc, 30. Angan was reportedly the wife of tribal leader Baywan Angan, a former barangay councilor who was murdered more than two weeks ago.

Lt. Albert Pansoy Jr., municipal police chief, said two others were wounded in the ambush that took place in Barangay Sayap, about three kilometers from the poblacion.

Gang leader in Zamboanga Sur surrenders

An alleged gang leader with a P445,000 bounty for his capture surrendered to the police in the municipality of Dumalinao in Zamboanga del Sur Friday last week, police said.

Col. Restituti Pangusban, provincial police director, said Anwar Ansang and his gang were involved in kidnapping, drug trafficking, extortion, contract killing and other crimes.

The Army likewise reported that Ansang’s group was responsible for the ambush of soldiers in Dinas town in November 2016, which resulted in the killing of one officer and wounding of three others.